SASSAFRAS 293 



some of the party kept guard, while others collected 

 sassafras in the woods. The natives were treated with 

 kindness, and the last of the two vessels departed, 

 freighted, on the 9th of August. 



In connection with the introduction of sassafras root, 

 we present the following interesting record from the 

 Calendars of State Papers of the Public Record Office, 

 unearthed by Daniel Hanbury (Proc. Am. Phar. 

 Assoc., 1871, p. 491) : 



"Instructions for suche thinges as are to be sente 

 from Virginia, 1610. 



"(!) Small Sassafras Rootes to be drawn in the 

 winter and dryed and none to be medled with in the 

 somer and yt is worthe 50 and better, p. Tonne." 



And yet, the exact botanical origin of sassafras was 

 unknown to the writers of the 17th century. While 

 they were well acquainted with the peculiar foliage and 

 the other characteristics of the tree, the flowers and 

 fruit were expressly stated to be unknown to such 

 writers as Clusius (153), Monardes (447), 1593, Joh. 

 Bauhinus (47), 1650, and Piso (511), 1658. 



Two early statements concerning the fruit may, 

 however, now be recorded : 



Caspar Bauhinus (48), who named the sassafras tree 

 "arbor ex Florida ficulneo folio," in 1623, reports that 

 specimens of the leaves and the fruit were sent to him 

 by Dr. Doldius, of Nuremberg. He describes the 

 fruit as oblong, rugose, and attached to very long 

 pedicels. 



Likewise, Jean de Laet (368), in the index to his chap- 

 ter on sassafras, requests the reader to insert in the 

 text that the fruits of this tree were brought to the 

 notice of the author by a person returning from Novo 



